[ RECLOSABLE PACKAGE ABSTRACT: A bag closure for bags formed in tubular form 1C|8lm,4Dl'flWln8 8 comprising a strip of bendable inelastic material forming a [52] U.S.Cl. 229/65 longitudinal Seam for tubular g. end P f {51] 33/16 strip adjacent the open end of the bag adapted to be folded n w Search 229/; with the end portion ofthe bag to hold the folded end portion 93/35 ofthe bag closed.

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I I ii: I lll 1 H4 Il 4 1 hl l IH.J---l7 1 H Patented Nov. 1970 INVENTOR R. D. ROCHETTE A TTORNEYS ticularly to a foldable bag of flexible sheet material having a -of this type of closure is that it is not effectively operable for a larger number of foldove'rswhich are required when the contents of the bag are depleted. Also the'repeatedbending of the tabs at the same point adjacent the sides of the bag weakens the tabs and reduces'their effectiveness as the closure is repeatedly used. Also, production of such bags is relativelyrexpensive since the closure strip must be fixed tothe bag subsequent to its manufacture'in a separateoperation.

It is an object of the present'invention to provide a method of producing foldablebags'in whichclosures are attached'to the bags during their continuous manufacture.

Another object of the inventionis to provide afoldable bag having a closure which is not materially weakened asthecontents of the bag are depleted and the closure is repeatedly reused.

Afurther object of the invention'is toprovide afoldable bag having a closure which effectively clamps thefolds of the bag irrespective of the number of such folds.

' Still another object of the invention is to provide a foldable bag having a closure which serves also toreinforce' the bottom of the bag. i

In its broadest aspect theinvention consists ofa method of producing foldable bags, comprising: (a) forming a continuous tube "of flexible sheet material, (b) fixing a continuous band of bendable inelastic material longitudinally on the tube, (c) severing the tube intoindividual lengths, and (d) sealing one end of each individual length of tubing to form a'bag. Preferably the tube is formedby laterally folding a continuous sheet of material and sealing togetherthe overlapping lateral edges with the band of "reinforcing material interposed between them.

In another aspect theflinvention consists of a closure for a foldable bag of flexible sheet material comprising at least one band of inelastic reinforcing material fixedto the wall of the bag transverse to its opening or mouth and'bendable to secure at least one lateral fold in the bag. The band of reinforcing v material is preferably a wire of suitable gauge running the length of the bag.

An example embodiment of the invention isshown' in 'the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 3 is a side view of the bag shown in Flfifilrfilled and 7 sealed; and I FIG. 4 is aview similar 'to'that of FIG. 3 but showing the manner of folding and sealing the bag-when part of the conwhich consists of a wire '17 of suitable gauge sealed between a The bottom of bag 10 is formed by folding the tube of sheet material 11 transversely along a line 19 adjacent one open end to form a flap 20 which is sealed to the continguous portion of sides 12, wire 17'being bent with flap 20 to aid in holding the the flap against sides 12 in its sealed position.

Tofill bag 10 the tube formed by sheet I1 is expanded to provide an opening or mouth 21 at its upper end. When bag 10 has been filled, mouth 21 may be closed and the bag sealed at its top in the same manner as its bottom portion, i.e. by folding the bag transversely along a line 22 adjacent mouth 21 to form a flap 23 which is sealed against sides 12, wire 17 being bent with flap 23 to'reinforce the flap in its sealed position.

' In use, bag 10 is opened by unsealing flap 23 and bending wire 17 upwardly away from sides 12. The presence of wire 17 may facilitate this unsealing operation. When the desired amount of the contents of bag 10 has been removed the bag is reclosed by repeatedly folding over the top portion of the bag to form multiple transverse folds parallel to line 22 as shown in FIG. 4'of the drawings. On each foldovcr ofthe top portion of bag 10 wire 17 is bent and holds that particular fold in place.

'Thus mouth 21 of the'bag is'effectively clamped shut and the bag is reduced in size tothe volume of the remaining contents. On removal of further contents, wire 17 is bent at a new fold whichis not weakened by previous bending. The remaining bends in wire 17 aid in clamping the folds in position even though such bends might be weakened by reuse. It will be noted that no matter how much the contents of bag 10 have been depleted and how many folds may be present the bag is still effectively closed by the clamping action ofwire '17.

The closure ofthe present inventionfacilitates manufacture of bags to which it is attached; Wire 17 may be sealed between strips 18 in a continuous process at the same time that resulting reinforcing bandl6 is fed into the production of a continuous tube formed by sheet 11. When reinforcing band 16 has been positionedand sealed between overlapping ends I3 of sheet 11 'the tube may be severed into individual lengths whereafter flap 20 is folded and sealed into position.

It will be appreciated that reinforcing band 16 may be formed ofany bendable inelastic materiaL'for instance a plu- "ralit'y ofindividual parallel wires ofsuitable gauge or a thin strip of metal. If desired, strips 18 may be eliminated where band [6 strip is interposed between overlapping sealed edge portions 13 of the bag material although it may be desired to identify the reinforcing band by using strips of a'color contrastingwith that of thebag-material. =Although theexample embodiment shows the bottom of bag 10 formed by a sealed foldover'flap 20, it may also be sealedby crimping and a foldovcr flap additionally employed if it is desired to make use of the reinforcing characteristics of band 16. In the method of continuous production crimping .would allow the bottom of each bag to be formed before severance of the tube into individual lengths.

forward ofthe filling material and the crimp is cut midway of its lateral length, the crimp on one side of the cut forming the top seal of its filled bag ahead while the crimp on the opposite sideof the out forms the bottom of the bag being filled.

The'closure of the present invention is equally applicable to seamless bags, for instance. plastic tubing which is continuou'sly extruded, reinforcing band 16 being continuously fed and sealed onto the outside of the tube wall. Also, more than one such reinforcing stripmay be attached to each bag and, of

.course,.the bag itself may be of any suitable shape. Any suitable type of flexible bag material may be used such as coated or uncoated cellulose material as described, plastic or paper.

Iclaim: l. A reclosable bag formed from a sheet of flexible material which is folded upon itself toprovide an open-ended tubular bag body with opposite side edge portions of the sheet being overlappedand secured together in a seam extending longitudinally of the bag'body, and an elongated striplike stiffening member embedded-insaid seam between the overlapped and ing member being folded transversely upon itself to close the bottom of the bag while the other end of the bag body serves as an open bag mouth whichis closable by transversely folding the mouth end portion of the bag body with the associated portion of the stiffening member upon itself so that the stiffening member retains the bag mouth closed. t